Centrifugal machine and process involving the use of the same



BEST AVAILABLE COFW March 2 1926. 1,575,061

I... D. JCNES ET AL CENTRIFUGAL MACHINE PRbCESS INVOLVING THE USE OF THE SAME Original Filed y 1. 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 lvwewcoz ii 302 Jones BEST AVAILABLE COPY Marh 2 1926.

i... D. JONES ET AL.

CENTRIFUGAL MACHINE AND PROCESS INVOLVING THE USE OF THE SAME Original Filed my 1, 1924 4 Sheets5heet avwewtow 452 222 1 bgm gir zir yres BEST AVAILABLE COM Mama '2 1926. 1,575,061 -L.. D. JQNES ET AL CENTRIFUGAL MACHINE AND PROCESS INVOLVING THE USE OF THE SAME Original Filed may 1, 1924 4 sheets sheet 5 BEST AVAILABLE com March 2 1926. I 1,575,061

l... D. JONES ET AL CENTRIFUGAL MACHINE AND PROCESS INVOLVING THE USE OF THESAME Original F1164 2 1 1924 ASheets-Sheet 4 ayweutow I lea B Jones %%%/aia soap, ;is being: clarificdiby the 3 action of centrifugal force or when such substancesas Patented Mar. 2, 1926.

BEST AAIIVAIILLABLE com TE TATES- PATENTQFFLCE.

' LEO D. JONES' AND ARTHUR U. AYE ES, OF LPH LADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA."

- onncrnrruelu. MACHINE AND rn ocnss INVOLVING can can oral Insane.

' Original application filed May 1, 1924, Serial a. 710,388. Divided at this applicatioufiled m 29,

1925. Serial. NO. 33,729.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known. that we, Lno D. Jonns and AltT-HUR U. -AY Rns, citizens of the United States, and residents of the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improve ments inCentrifugal Machines and Processes Involving the Use of the- Same, of which the following is a specification. I

Our invention 7 relates .to centrifugal, machinesand processes involving the use of the same, and particularly to such machines'and processes wherein certain conditions and effects resulting from the action of centrifugal force or other forces or causes may be'promoted or prevented ,or controlled as may .be desired. y When a substanceis .treated in a centrifugal machine. to effect certain. desired re sults, such, for example, as the separation of constituents of the substancefrom one another, or the alteration of the substance or one of its constituents by the action ofthe centrifugal force itself or; by theeffect of some reagent acting simultaneously with the centrifugal force, it isdesirable or necessary .to prevent the occurrence :of undesired changes or conditions of the substance or its constituentsor to promote desired changes or,conditions thereof. Thus. when l quid water solutions of licoriceare being treated in a. centrifugal machine ..the treatment should be. carried-out in such a manneras toprevent foaming of-thesubstance. ,Thrs

can be accomplished by maintaining vacuum .uponthe substance be1ngtreated. And in the clarificationof drying or oxidizable oil,

e. g; whale .oil, or of sour oils before neu- -tralization thereof, and in the treatment of transformer. v oils, particularly. where such oil .is drawn, from the transformer casing and=treatedand immediately returned to the casing, the best results are. secured when oxidation-ofthe substance; being treated is prevented. This canbe accomplished by maintaining arreduced. pressure upon the substance beingtreated. And in. treating -ma.terials used in the .so-called dry clean ing process to purify those.materials, :dewaxing oils. that ,have been diluted with --naphtha, and in. treating. a volatile substance, loss .by evaporation or. volatilization .or the spreading of. injurious or dangerous ffimes may avoided in. cases en-. H;

closing the substance during centrifugal treatment thereof and may insome cases .be more effectively avoided byv maintaininga pressure difi'erent from" atmospheric,,pressure upon the substance being-centrifugally treated.= Ifit be desirableto promote evaporation of the substancev being treated I or of a, constituent thereofa vacuu nmay be main,- tained. uponthe; Substance being treated. If the, substance" Lbeing treated contains dis;- .solved gasealth iscap'e thereof can be prevented by m'a'ii taining the substance under pressure "during treatment, as in the 'clarification of beer or win pr the removal'th-reofcan :be effected by maintaining the substance undera vacuum during treatment.

Or asubstance,; or a constituent thereof, may be treated with a gaseous agent or a vapor-while undergoing centrifugal treatment by. maintaining, in cont-act therewith such agent or vapor. A. substance, or a constituent thereof, is in such a very finely diyided state as it-is discharged fromithe ro tating member of the centrifugal machine that any result sought by the-existence .of pressure or vacuum is efiiciently and readily attained. i

A substance composed of one or more constituents may-he subjected to the action of centrifugal force-to eifectwarious treatments thereof or changes therein. Thus, immiscible substances. may be separated as in cases where a solid or semi-solid or'other immiscible substances is separ'atedby subsidence from, a liquid, e. g. the; separation of solids from beer or wine or the separation of wax or water from oilor the separation of water from emulsions or emulsions from oil. Or thecentrifugal forcemay be employed for the purpose of producing an emulsion or causing interaction between substances, or it may be employed to effect many other changes. ofcomposition or state or condition. After being subjected to the action 0f centrifugal force for the purpose of offecting some desired change therein, the substance is dispersed in a finely divided state as it discharges fromthe centrifugal bowl under the action of centrifu al force. While in such dispersed state the substance is highly susceptible to the atmospheric conditionsv surrounding it so that by suitable regulation of those atmospheric conditions the COQdliiOlLQf the substancemay be controlled too as by preventing undesirable changes in the substance or promoting or effecting desirable changes in the substance, a change or alteration in the substancethat is additional to that effected by the action of centrifugal force being thereby promoted or prevented as desired. From the foregoing it will be apparent that regulation of the atmospheric conditions in which the substance exists in dispersed state may include adjustment of the pressure of the atnr's here, low pressure causing evaporation prerenting foaming and oxidation, higher pressure prevent in escape :of vapors or dissolved gases, and su stan'tially tight enclosure preventing 'escape of volatile constituents. lVhatever gas is maintained within the enclosure that sur rounds the -centrifufge and constitutes the atmosphere within which substances are discharged from the centrifugal bowl, may "osse'ss' whatever pressure, temperature or cegree of moisture is suitable to effect the desired result, such result including the promotioaor prevention of absorption of that atmosphere. nasmuch as apparatus embodying our invention permits of subjecting a substance to centrifugal treatment under any desired pressure, it is possible in-the practice of our invention to feed a substance under pressure to a centrifuge and withdraw it from a' centrifuge under pressure and by that same pressure deliver it at a level above the centrifuge.

This application is a division of our co- I bending application Ser. No. 710,388, filed lilay 1, 1924, that is directed to the control of the, condition of a substance treated in a centrifuge by regulation of the condition of the atmosphere within which the substance is so treated, such condition including the pressure, character (1. e. chemical properties) mo sture or temperature or any two or more of those properties of the atmosphere, said application also being specifically directed to the control of the condition of a substance being treated in a centrifuge by regulation of the character of the atmosphere within which it is so treated.

From the few instances that are above given, merely as examples, and of which many others will be apparent, it is clear that. :while a substance is under centrifugal treati'nejnt, changes or conditions thereof that are undesirable may be prevented and changes and conditions that are desirable may be efiected or promoted by maintaining pressure for vacuum upon the substance, as may be desired.

Our invention has for its object the provision 'of a centrifugal machine possessing features and advantages that may be employed in centrifugal machines adapted for general purposes and also features and advan'ta es whereby conditions or changes such, for example, as those above referred to may be maintained or eireeted er 'prevented or controlled as may be desired, a further object being the provision of a process involving the employment of a centrifugal machine and whereby changes in or conditions of substances being treated niay be promoted, affected, prevented or controlled, as may be desired.

' Other objects and advantages of our invention will be apparent from the following description of our process and of apparatus containing one embodiment of our invention and from the description of the mode of operation of such apparatus.

In the drawings,

1 is a vertical elevation, with parts in section. of a centrifugal machine "embodying and suitable for the practice of our invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevation taken from the right side of the construction shown in Fig. 1-;

Fig. 3 is a top View of the construction shown in Fig. 1; r

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail view;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view showing the inanner of feeding and withdrawing material from the construction shown in Fig 1.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a modified form of seal for the power shaft;

Fig. 7 is a sectional View of another modification of the seal;

8 is a sectional view of line 88 of Fi %ig. 9 shows a modification of. means for evacuating a discharge tank. v

It being understood that the construction herein described is merely an example of apparatus that embodies our invention and w ereby it may be practiced, it will be seen np'on reference to Fig. 1 that the centrifugal bowl 1,"whi-'ch 'maybe of any form and as shown 'is a bowl of the separator type, is provided with an inlet opening 2 which may be, as shown, at the bottom of the bowl and 'i'vith outlets 3 and which maybe, as shown, at 'the -upper end the bowl. As is customary, eac outlet is controlled by a weir in '.'order that the proper hydrostatic balance may be maintained within the bowl. In the construction shown the circular dam cont'rols the outlet 5% and the circular dam 6 controls the outlet 3. Of course if mere clarification, wherein one constituent of a mixture is to be retained within the bowl, is to be carried out, discharge from one or the other outlet may be prevented by adjustment of its controlling dam. Whatever is discharged from the outlet '4 is collected in the compartment 7 and whatever is discharged from the outlet 3 is collected in the compartment 8; The "bowl is supported through the Stein 9 as hereinafter described.

Completely enclosing the separator bowl and i'tseoHect-ing compartments is a sub- 'stantially closed casing that is provided .a nozzle 12' of the inlet memberdirects the substance to be'treated into the opening '2 of the bowl. The inlet member'l2lcarries centering means indicated at 15 that may be of any known construction and that cooper.-

ates with the lower end of theib'owl to center the bowl as it rotates.v "Afiljuhricant; is introduced through the pipe 16 tofthe centering mechanism at 15, v i The casing isformed with extensions 10 respectively having passages 20jand 120%?) which I are respectively connected c lischarge p'ip' sj' 2l jand' 21 The compartments for collecting L substancesdischarged from '.the bowl have outletspouts '20 and 20?f respectively leading to the passag'es 20 and 20.

- The atmosphere} withinf the casihg lO will vary as to temperature; pressure,,}moisture, and chemical activity according to the" nature of the substance. or the effectlthat is sought to bemade'upon the substance undergoing treatment thereinand for these reasons it is desirable'to have the motor that drives the centrifuge located outside of the casingand such an arrangement 'is also desirable because the motor requires ventilation. 'Any spark produced in the motor would} be dangerous ifinflammable substanc es were being treated, and g'motorlubri- Cat/1011411132113 contaminate substances pass- =1n'g through the centrifugal. And In order t(') transmit power to the bowl, account must be taken' of the desire to maintain various pressures within the" casingvand of fact that the bowl and parts directly connected to it are subject toVibration by reason of the rotation ;of the bowl that maybe in the neighborhood of 15,000 R. P. The motor driven pulley 22 has rtmningoveritthfe belt 23 tightened by the belt tightening idler 24. Thebelt'passes around the pulley "25 .that' is provided with an, extended hub or quill'or hollow shaft 26. The power shaft '26.;is'supported.by a hearing such as the ball bearing 27 tl1'at is carried by the hear- I ing support 28 that ismounted in and forms part of the casing 10. Between the hol- 'lo w shaft 26 and the casing 21 seal is provided to prevent or control the escape of gasorlair around the shaft'26. In the constructionshown the bearing support 28 has 60 a downward 'extensionf'29 "and a seal; is prosurfacef of the downward extension 29.

This sealinayffbe "constructed in various 3 BEST AVAILABLE COPY a gland having at its inner end a washer 30 that supports an inner packing member 31. An outer packing member 32 is spaced'from the inner packing member 31 by a ring 33 that is spaced from the shaft 26 to provide the chamber 34 and is provided with an outer groove 35 that communicates with the chamber 34 through the passages 36. The gland nut 37 compresses the packing members 31 to any desired degree. A passage 38through the extension 29 communicates with the groove 35 and has connected to it the; pipe 39 whereby the pressure in the chamber 34may be regulated or the chamber may be supplied with fluid. If pressure is to be'una'int'ained within the casing 10 an equal ror' slightly greater"pressure in the chamber 34 will prevent any leakage around the shaft: 26'; and-a pressure in the chamber 34 that is only slightly less than the pressurewithin'the casing 10 will so reduce the uiflerntiali f pressures 'in the casing 10 and the chamber'34 that leakage around the sh'aft 26 will bepreventedor negligible. In either case-any leakage around the. packing member 31 would 'be only leakage of what ever gas is suppliedto the chamberv 34 through the pipe 39; Liquid introduced into or under' pressurefiwithin the chamber 34 will assist in effecting axseal around the shaft 26. Or a vacuum may be maintained in the chamber 34. a It can be readily determined whether it is most desirable to have pressure or vacuum 'or a liquid in the cham ber 34 but, in any event,'leakage around the shaft 26 will be prevented or drawn off and lo'ssoi atmospheric pollution prevented.

' 1 In'Fig. 6 a seal of the'labyriuth, type is shown for prevention of leakage between the shaft 26 and the casing'flO. A cylindrical n iernbe'r 40 provided with many ci rcumferew tral'ridges 41' and hav ng gaskets 42 at the u per and lower ends thereof is held on to the shaft 26 by a nut 43. [Gas or liquid may be maintained between member 40 and a corresponding' member 44 that has on its inner face circumferential ridges 45 that extend between the ridges 41; and is positioned within the downward extension 29 of the bearing support 28, The member 44 v a. I .is held in'place by the nut 48, vided'b etween the shaft ,26"'and tl1e inner.

The seal between the "shaft 26 and the casing 10 may be in the form of a liquid seal and in Fig. 7 We have shown one embodiment of'such a construction. 49 is held between gaskets 50 on the shaft The sleeve 26. by vmeans of a nut 51.- Carried upon the sleeve 49 is a disk 52 that is positioned within the annular chamber 53 of the downward extension 29 of the bearing support 28. Liquid is maintained in the chamber 53 as more fully hereinafter described and the disk 52 carries impeller vanes, for example, the curved vanes 54 thatare so formed and positioned-upon the disk that they impel fluid within the chamber 53 in a direction oppositeto the direction in which the pressure would normally tend to. move the fluid in chamber 53. Thus assuming that there is a pressure in the casing 10, fluid will be supplied through the inlet-55 and be conducted to the chamber 53 below the disk 52 and be thrown outward in the chamber 53 by reason of t-herotation of the disk 52 so that gas passing upward between the sleeve l9 and the inner face of the downward extension29, will be prevented from escaping from the casing 10. v In order to assist in maintaining-a sufiieientlyslarge hodyot liquid in thechamber 53 and in contact with the rotating disk .52, the vanes 54 are placed on the npperside of thedisk and as they tend tov throw the liquid outward they tend to move the liquid in the direction opposite to the direction in which a pressure within the casing is tending to move it. Any excess liquid may be discharged through the pipe 56, or the pi e 95 that carries away oil that is fed to the earings through the pipe 96. If there is a vacuum within the casing, flow would ordinarily be downward between the sleeve 49 and the inner face of the extension 29 so the impeller vanes 54 would be located on the under side of the disk 52 and fluid would be introduced through the pipe 56 and any excess liquid would collect in the annular channel 57 and be conducted to some desired point within or outside of tlrecasing by means of the pipe 58. The parts of the extension 29 are held together by bolts 59. The head of the bowl 1 is, as is usual, provided with a stem 9 that is connected with a spindle 60 in a well known manner, as by the nut 9 threaded onto stem 9, and the upper end of the spindle is connected to the driving pulley or other prime mover 25. The particular construction of the bearing by which the shaft 26 is supported and the connection between the spindle 60 and the pulley 25 form no part of our present invention and they are more particularly described in the application of Arthur U. Ayres filed April 6, 1925, Serial No. 20,961. But it is to be noted that while the centrifugal bowl is entirely enclosed, power from a source outside of-the enclosure istransmitted to the bowl through mechanism, a part of which, e. g. shaft 26, is firmly supported from the bearing while another part, c. g1 the spindle 60 is free ,.to partake of sue BEST AVAlLABLE coP vibration and flexure as may result from the rapid rotation of the bowl. The seal that prevents leakage Where the transmitting mechanism passes through the casing is located between the casin :and a part of the power transmitting nec aniSm, e. g. shaft 26, that is relatively-tree ofvibration. The upper end of the pulley is closed by a cap 25. And it is also to be noted that after removing cover 11 and releasing coupling nut 9 compartments or covers 7 and Sniay be withdrawn from the hand hole 10; and in order to -f ac ilitate the removal of thebowl 1 from casing 10, thecasingfrnay be hollowed out as indicated atlO It will thus be apparent that while by placing the motor outside'of the casiin r we have avoided the many difiiculties that would arise? the motor, were placed within the casing,":we shave nevertheless provided a seal for the transmitting mechanism thatextends i he asi g and ihar s ai edithe diflisnl eathat would arise' ifit' were attempted to, seal a part of the transmitting mechanism that vp artake's off the vibrations and fiexure due to the rapid'rotation of the bowl. The valved pipe 10.0 is provided for draining the casing 10. i

In 5 we have shown diagrammatically certain connections and devices whereby the feeding and discharging of substances to and from the casing may be ,efiected while the pressure or vacuum therein is maintained or controlled as desired. A chamber ,or header, 70 islconnected to a vacuum pump V or a pressure pump P. When the valve 71 is .opened,., and the valve-72 closeda vacuum will'be created in the chamber 70 and when'gthe valve 72 is opened and the valve 71"is closed pressure will be created in the chamber 70. A supply tank S having an inlet iOntrolledby the valve I and a vent controlled by the valve 73 is connected to theflchamber 7O byv a pipe controlled by the valve 74. The pipe '64 leading from the'easfing to the chamberlYO is controlled the valve .75. r The discharge pipes 21 and 21"lead from the casing to discharge tanks D, D. Vent pipes leading .trom the discharge tanks 'tothe chamber 70 arecontrolled by the valves 76 and 77. Each discharge tank D has an outlet 78 that may lead .toany desired point. Flow from each tank D through its outlet 78 is controlled as b a valve 7-9, the opening and closing of whicll is dependent upon the level of liquid in the tank D. For example, valve 79 may be controlled by a float F operating the lever 80. An alternate method of emptying a. tank D, .that'is used particularly. when .there is a vacuum within the tank'D, consists in closing; the valve 81 and permitting an extension 82 of ,the float operated lever .-80-to actuate a controlling device T of a prime mover-M that. inturn actuates an exhausting pump E. The pipe 39 leading tothef space between the packing members 31 and 32'may'be connected in any manner "'to'the vacuum pumpV or the pressure pump For to a' source of liquid supply as may be desired; The pipe 16 conducting lubricant to "the guiding mechanism 15 may be supplied and controlled in any knowninanner. If the centrifugal treatn'ient 'is to be carried out with pressure, above that of the atindsphere; inthecasing C the supply tank is closed .by the closing of the valves I and 73 and pressure is created in the chamber 70. {The valve 75 is opened to permit pressure to accumulate in the casing C and in "the discharge tanks D and the valves 74;, 2

76 are opened ,in order to equalize the pressuresin the tanks S and D and the casing C. The supply to V the centrifugal machine is controlled by the valve Stand constituents of theisubstance treated pass throughthe dischargepipes 21 and 21' into the discharge'tanks until the level therein "is sufiiciently'high to raise the valve 79 and 2 jpern1it flow through the outlets 78, the

" valves 81 of which are open.

' trifugal treatment is to be carried out with a'vacuu'mlexistin'g in the casing C the valves "81 0f the outlets 78 are closed and a vacuum If the cenis created in the chamber by means of pump V. As the level risesin the dis ch'arge tanks 1) the floats F will raise the valves 79 and actuate the control devices T insuch a way as to cause the pumps E to "withdraw liquid from the tanks D and discharge it through the pipes-83 into the outlet 78. Under certain conditions it may be desirable to have atmospheric pressure in the tank S when there is a vacuum in the casing C and then the valve 74- is closed and the valve 73 opened. If the centrifugal treatment is to be carried out under atmospheric pressure but still while the casing 'C is closed off from the surrounding atmosphere there will be neither pressure nor vacuum int-he chamber 70 but the various vent pipes will permit of the desired flow. The supply may be from a point below the level of the casing C such as the tank S that has an inlet valve I and avalve 73 corresponding to the valvesI and 73 of the tank S. Flow from tank S to the casing is controlled by the valve S If it is desired to carry out the centrifugal treatment in the presence of any particular gas such a gasmaybe supplied by pump P at either atmospheric pressure or some greater pressure or after the system is filled with such a gas the pressure thereof may be reduced.

It will be apparent that because of the very high speeds encountered in connection with centrifugal treatment of substances and the proportionately great pressures and forces incident thereto that certain conditions that arise by reason of forces, speeds,

' gal machinel BEST AVAILABLE COP. 5

or possible agitation may either be utilized in effecting a desired change or" may interfere-with the' attainment 'of. the desired 're'-' sult and that it is therefore desirable'to'control' such conditions, for example; the -'tndency of asubstance to foam lAnd-when a" substance or constituent of a l subsance is discharged at veryhigh speedfrom the rotating bowl-it is discharged in siicnwan extremely finely divided form that outsidein- For example,'the"presence of air'mayexidize asubstanceg e. "g."=wha'le oil, or transformer oils, or sour oils, or the*presence of another gas may-readily effect idesired fluences act upon the {substance v'ery readily.

- =u mwe"inte ndthatithe I finely divided state "of the "discharged s'ub'starieoi constituent may be'taken 'advantage' pf'dn efleeting a treatment ofsthat; substance or fconstituem by a l gas or 'in order to elfct evaporation,

such evaporation being preferably efiected by maintaining a vacuum where. the'substance exists in finely divided form an incident bf its discharge 'from the .rcentrifu- The fact that the casing C is' closed except for controlledaopenings' therein makes fit possible to carry out centrifugal -treatment without any chance that vapors or gases will be lost or will pollute the sup" rounding atmosphere. 'Andflsuch closed condition of the casing makes' it possible to carryout the centrifugal treatment under pressure 'or vacuum in accordance with the principles and for the attainmentof the re that we have disclosed apparatus and a process whereby the various alterations and conditions above set out, andothe-rs that will be apparent, of the substance being treated, or the constituents thereof. may be effected or prevented or controlled as desired. And while we have described such apparatus and process in considerable detail we do not intend to be limited to such details but we intend that our invention shall be susceptible of such variations and modifications as fall within the hereunto appended claims. It will also'be apparent that We have provided a process and apparatus whereby the condition of a substance being centrifugally treated is maintained constant or preserved or altered, e. g foamng, oxidation and loss of dissolved gases are prevented and evaporation or chemical .place as by enclosing the centrifugal machine so that/vapors or gases do not escape 5.01 may build up a pressure. While we have showmseveral types of devices for sealing the power transmitting mechanism Where it passes, into the casing, such devices are ,described for the purpose of illustrating -th'e.principles of our invention whereby such sealsn aybe formed and made effective but nweedo not intend to be limited to the construction shown.

A possible modification of means for evacuating the discharge tank -,D. .is shown in .Fig. 9 wherein the tank I) is supplied with fluid through the pipe 21 .and :is .vented by the pipe 76 and fluid is withdrawn from the tank by the pump E.

.Fluid-will-be withdrawn from the tank-D through the pipe 78 and leavesthe pump E through pipe 78, but in ordento prevent the pump from drawing air when the.

t'a'nk .D. isnempty. a by-pass 90 extends .iaround thepump E from pipe 78 to pipe .78and the .float F opens thevvalvc 91 in theby-pass 90 when the liquid level in tank D drops so that liquid will pass from the -.pipe 78 back to the pipe 78 and prevent a the .pump from entirely emptying the tank I) iegardless of whether fluid is flowing into the tank D or not. .flVhat We claim as new and desire to sercure by Letters Patent ofthe United States is:

%; -,-1'. In the centrifugal treatment of a sub- 5 stance the process which comprises subjectingthe substance to the action of centrifingal force to efiect a desired change in the substanceand to. discharge the substance in dispersed form from the influence of the centrifugal force, and suitably regulating the pressure of the atmosphere within which the substance is so discharged to prevent undesirable alteration of the substance While it exists in the dispersed state in which it is discharged.

. 2. In the centrifugal treatment of substances, the process which comprises centrifugal-1y subsiding and centrifugally discharging the substance and suitably regulating the pressure of the atmosphere Within which the substance is discharged to control the condition of the substance during and aft-er discharge thereof.

3. In the centrifugal treatment of sub stances the process which comprises effect- BEST AVAlLABLE COP\ ing a desired change in a substance bysubjecting it to the action of centrifugal force and centrifugally discharging the changed substance from the influence of centrifugal force, and suitably regulating the pressure of the atmosphere Within which the substance is' so discharged to control the condition of the substance during discharge thereof.

-l;. In the centrifugal treatment ofa substance. the process which comprises subject ing the substance to the action of centrifugal force to effect a desired change in the substance and .to discharge the substance in dispersed form from the influence of the centrifugal force, ;and effecting a second desired change in the substance by suitably regulating the pressure of the atmosphere within which the substance is so discharged.

5. In the. centrifugal treatment of substances the process which comprises subjecting a. substance to the action of centrifugal force and thereby efi'ecting a desired change in the substance and changed substance in dispersed state, and maintaining gas pressure other than atmospheric pressure upon the substance while it exists in the dispersed state in which it is centrifugally discharged.

(3. In the centrifugal treatment of substances the process which comprises subjecting a substance to the action of centrifugal force and thereby eflec'tiiig a desired change in the substance and discharging the changed substance in dispersed state, and effecting evaporation of the substance by regulating the pressure thereon while in such dispersed state.

T. In the centrifugal treatment of substances the process which comprises subjecting a substance to the action of centrifugal force and thereby effecting a desired change in the substance and discharging the changed substance in dispersed state, and maintaining gas pressure above atmospheric pressure upon the substance while it exists in the dispersed state in which it is centrifugally discharged.

8. In .the centrifugal treatment of substances the process which comprises subjccting a substance to the action of centrifugal force and thereby effecting a desired change in the substance and discharging the changed substance in dispersed state, and suitably regulating the pressure of the atmosphere within which the substance is subjected to centrifugal treatment and so discharged to control the condition of the substance while being subjected to centrifugal force and while it exists in the dispersed state in which it is centrifugally discharged.

9. In the centrifugal treatment of substances the process which comprises subjecting a substance to the action of centrifugal force and thereby effecting a desired change discharging the- 1n the substance and discharging the changed substance in dispersed state, and maintaining gas-pressure other than atmospheric pressure'upon the substance while it is subject-to centrifugal force and while it exists in the dispersed state in which it is centrifugally discharged.

' l0. Incombination, a centrifugal machine .of the type wherein a substance is subjected toithe action of centrifugal force to effectchange therein .and. centrifugally dis charged in a dispersed state, and mea'ns'for regulatingv the: pressure of the. atmosphere within-which -the substance is subjected to the action of. centrifugal force to effect a change' thercin and within which the subj stance is-centrifugally discharged in a dis- 7 "persed-state '30- E ofthe-typewherein a substance is subjected r. 12. In combination, a centrifugal machine to the action. off-centrifugal force to effect a change- :therein. and centrifugally discharged in a dispersed state; and means for regulatingfthe gas pressure acting upon the substance While it exists in the dispersed state in which it is discharged.

13. In a centrifugalmachine, a separator bowl for separating and separately discharg- 5 ing substances under-theaction of centrifugal force: in a dispersed state, compartments for rrespectively collecting such separately discharged substances, means substantially enclosing said bowl and compartments and including a casing having supply and discharge conduits tightly connected thereto,

--means for conducting a substance from said supply conduit to said bowl, and means for conducting-separated constituents from said compartments to said discharge conduits.

-14.- l'n combination'a centrifugal bowl of 1 the type whereby a substance is subjected to the action ofcentrifugal force to effect a change therein and discharged in dispersed; form, a casing enclosing said bowl and having-inlet and discharge openings, supply and discharge conduits tightly connected to said casing at said openings, and a compartment removably mounted in said casing and re- :ceiving a substance discharged from said bowl and having an outlet discharging into a discharge opening of said casing.

- 15. In combination a centrifugal bowl having inlet and discharge openings and adapted for centrifugally treating substances and to said bowl. 1 I

BEST AVAlLABLE COP and'discharging them in dispersed form, a support on which said bowl is mounted for -rotation and having a discharge passage, a

discharge conduit tightly connected to said support at said passage, and a compartment supported by'said support toreceive a sub stance discharging from said discharge opening and having an outletwdischarging into said discharge passage.

16. In a centrifugal machine,-a separator bowl for separating and separately dis charging substances under the action of centrifugal force in a dispersed state, means substantially enclosing said bowl, means for conducting a substance to said bowl from apoint outside of said enclosing means, means i for? conducting the separated substances out of said enclosing means, and means for controlling the gaseous =pressure1-within said enclosing .means.-

said casing.

18. In a centrifugal machine, a bowl, a substantially closed casing wherein said .bowl is enclosed forirotation, rotationtransmitting means extending from said bowl to a point outside of said casing and including flexiblyconnected parts, and a seal between one of said parts and said casing.

19. In a centrifugal machine, a bowl, a substantially closedcasing wherein said bowl is enclosed for rotation, rotation transmitting means extending from said bowl to a point outside of said casing and including flexibly connected parts; a bearing in said casing and supporting one; of said parts, and a seal between said par-t so supported and said casing.

20. In a centrifugal machine, a bowl, a substantially closed casing wherein said bowl is enclosed for rotation, a sealed shaft extending into said casing, and a spindle jointed to said shaft and connected to said bowl. 7

21.;In a centrifugal machine, a how], a substantially closed casing wherein said bowl is enclosed for rotation, a sealed hollow shaft extending into said casing, a spindle within 'saidshaft and universally connected thereto at a point near the outer end of said shaft 22. In combination, a centrifugal machine including a bowl, supply and discharge tanks for said machine, an enclosure for said bowl, fluid passages between said tanks and bowl, and means for equalizing the pressure in said tanks and said enclosure.

23. In combination, a centrifugal machine including a bowl, supply and discharge tanks ior said machine, an enclosure for said bowl, fluid passages between said tanks and said bowl, and means for emptying said discharge tank.

24. In combination, a centrifu al machine including a bowl, supply and disdliarge tanks for said machine, an enclosure for said bowl, fluid passages between said tanks and said bowl, and means for equalizing pressure in said enclosure and said discharge tank.

25. In combination, a centrifugal machine having a bowl wherein a substance Subjected to the action of centrifugal force to effect a change therein and ccntrifugally discharged, an enclosure for the bowl, a conduit leading into said enclosure for conducting a substance to said bowl, a conduit-leading out of said enclosure for withdraw ng a substance discharged from said bowl,a and means for regulating the pressureinfsaid conduits. I 26. In combination, a'centritugal machine having a bowl wherein a substance 1S-'Sllbeffect a change therein and centrifugally discharged, an enclosure for the bowl, a

-conduit leading into said enclosure and tightly connected thereto for conducting a substance to said bowl, an'da conduit leading out of said enclosure andt'ightly connected thereto'for withdrawing a substance: discharged from said bowl, whereby a substance passed through said machine maybe withdrawn at the pressure at which it is 1n-- troduced.

27. In combination, a centrifugal machine including a bowl, supply and discharge tanks for said machine, arr-enclosure for said bowl, fluid passages between said tanks and said bowl, and means for regulating the pressure in each of said tanks.

28. In combination, a centrifugal machine including a bowl, supply and discharge tanks for said machine, an enclosure for said bowl, fluid passages between said tanks and said bowl, and means for connecting said tanks and enclosure to {provide a closed system, V

29. In combination, a centrifugal machine of the type wherein a substance is subjected to the action of centrifugal force to ciii'ect a change therein and centrifugallfiy discharged in a dispersed state, and means for effecting evaporation of the substance as it exists in the dispersed state in which it is discharged.

30. In combination, a centrifugal machine of the type wherein a substance is subjected to the action of centrifugal force to effect a change therein and'centrifugally discharged in a dispersed state, and meanswhereby a substance is introduced to said machine and subjected to centrifugal force therein to elfect a change in thes-ubstance and withdrawn from said machine while i seer AVNLABLE C the substance is under predetermined pressure. ,J

{5-1. In combination, a centrifugal machine of: the type wherein a substance is subjected to the action of centrifugal force-t0 :7

machine under, a pressure other than atmose pherie pressii e.

32. In combination, a centrifugal machine of the-type wherein a substance is subjectedto the action of centrifugal force to etfeota change therein and Centrifugally;-

discharged in a dispersed state, compart ments for collecting a substance so '-d.ischarged, and means for regulating the gaseous pressure within saidcompartments.

Incombination, a centrifugal Ina-1i chineincludihg a bowl, supply and discharge tanks forsaidmachine, an enclosure for said :bowL-iiuid passages betweensaidtanks jected to the action of centritugal force toand said: enclosure, and venting passagesbetween said tanks and said enclosure.

34. In combination, a centritugal machineincluding a bowl, supply and discharge tanks for said machine, an "enclosure for said bowl, fluid passages between said tanks and said enclosure, and means for emptying said discharge tank and operative only when said discharge tank contains 4 fluid;

35. In combination, a centrifugal-amachine including a l-bowl, a discharge tank tiiQPQZEOlfflf meanS-r-fonemptying said disza the action of centrifugal force to effect a change therein and discharged in dispersed form, a support for said bowl and having a discharge passage therein, and a compartment carried by said support and receiving a substance discharging from said bowl and having an outlet-in operative relation-to said passage in said'support.

- 38. In combination a casing closed except for inlet and discharge passages, conduits tightly, connected to'saidcas ing at said passages, a centrifugal bowl having an inlet and a discharge, means for supporting said'bowl in said casing with its inlet in operative relation to said inlet passage, and a compartment removably supported in said casing and receiving a substance discharged from said bowl and having an outlet discharging into said outlet opening.

'39. In combination a casing having a uOYBlOCl opening, a shaft opening and supply anddischarge openings, a shaft sealed and supported for rotation in said shaft opening, a centrifugalbowl having an inlet and a discharge, a compartment removably supported in said casing and receiving a substance discharging from said bowl and having an outlet discharging into said discharge opening of said casing, and a releasable coupling supporting said bowl from said shaft with said inlet and discharge of said bowl respectively in operative relation to said supply opening and said compartment.

40. In combination a centrifugal bowl of the type whereby a substance is subjected to the action of centrifugal force to efiect a change therein and discharged in dispersed form, a casing enclosing said bowl and having inlet and discharge openings, supply and discharge conduits tightly connected to said casing at said openings, and means for directing into a cischarge opening of said casing a substance discharged from said bowl.

41. In combination a centrifugal bowl of the type whereby a substance is subjected to the action of centrifugal force to effect a change therein and discharged in dispersed form, an enclosing casing having controlled gas and liquid openings, a compartment receiving a substance discharged from said bowl and discharging said substance through one of said openings, means conducting liquid from one of said openings to said bowl, and a gas pump connected to one of said openings.

42. In combination a centrifugal bowl of the type whereby a substance is subjected to the action of centrifugal force to effect a change therein and discharged in dispersed form, a casing enclosing said bowl and having inlet and discharge openings, supply and discharge conduits tightly connected to said casing at said openings, and a removable compartment receiving a substance dis- EST AVAlLABLE CON 9 charged from the bowl and having an outlet and closely fitting and substantially closing said casing with said outlet in discharge relation to said discharge opening.

43. In combination a centrifugal bowl of the type whereby a substance is subjected to the action of centrifugal force to effect a change therein and discharged in dispersed form, a casing enclosing said bowl and having inlet and discharge openings, supply and discharge conduits tightly connected to said casing at said openings, and a removable compartment receiving a substance discharged from the bowl and provided with an outlet having an operative connection with said discharge opening independent of the connection of said discharge conduit thereto.

M. In combination a centrifugal bowl of the type whereby a substance is subjected to the action of centrifugal force to effect a change therein and discharged in dispersed form, an enclosing casing for said bowl and provided with a bearing, a high-speed driving shaft sealed in said casing and supported in said bearing, means for connecting said bowl and shaft for simultaneous rotation, and a source of power and speed change gearing exterior of said casing.

45. In a centrifugal machine, a casing having a driving shaft opening in its upper end and supply and discharge openings and a covered opening, a shaft supported in said shaft opening, a seal sealing said shaft in said casing, a centrifugal bowl removably suspended in said casing from said shaft, and a compartment removably supported by said casing and encircling said bowl and receiving a substance discharged from said bowl and having an outlet discharging into said discharge opening.

In testimony whereof, we have signed our names to this specification.

LEO D. JONES. ARTHUR U. AYRES. 

